We've tried a bunch of headphones - these are our 9 favorites
Marshall Major II Bluetooth (wireless)
Bose QC35 II with Google Assistant (wireless)
Pros: Most comfortable headphones I've tried; great sound; excellent noise cancelling that even works on calls; collapsible; good battery life; microphone for calls.
Cons: Dated design; less-than-premium materials and feel; expensive; limited controls (volume only); Google Assistant on headphones isn't a deal-making feature (I only tried it once and never used it again); uses microUSB instead of the new USB-C to charge.
AIAIAI TMA-2 (can be wireless)
Pros: Beautiful minimalist design; lightweight; lets you customize comfort and sound with modular ear cups/speakers/headband/cable; great sound; can be upgraded with Bluetooth; not too expensive; microphone for calls depending on which cable you choose.
Cons: Can be tricky to find the right speaker units and ear cups for the sound you're looking for without listening to each configuration first. You're better off buying a preset model with the parts chosen for you.
Etymotic ER4SR and XR
Pros: Crisp, clear, incredibly well-defined sound for the most discerning audiophile in a portable earphone design, in-ear design blocks exterior sound exceptionally well; comes with various tips, including foam tips so you can find the best comfort.
Cons: Accurate sound is not for everyone, as music can seem flat and bass-less compared to other headphones; even the XR model with added bass won't satisfy bass-heads; expensive; no microphone.
Price: $350 on Amazon
Beats Studio3 Wireless
Pros: Good-to-great sound; good noise cancelling; W1 chips lets you pair seamlessly with Apple devices; collapsible; premium and modern design; full music controls; good battery life.
Cons: Similar design as previous Beats headphones; sound quality doesn't quite match its high price tag; ear pads can get tight and hot around your hears; tricky to know when they're turned on or off, leading to battery drainage; uses microUSB instead of Lightning or USB-C to charge.
Price: $350 from Apple
Apple AirPods (wireless)
Pros: Truly wireless earphones; pairs seamlessly with Apple devices; surprisingly good battery life; charging case stores and charges AirPods; music controls; microphone for calls.
Cons: Similar sound quality as regular EarPods; expensive for said audio quality; easy potential to lose single or both AirPods; expensive to replace; Siri not a great feature to have on earphones but you don't have to use it.
Price: $160 from Apple
Read the Apple AirPods review here >>
BeatsX (wireless)
Pros: Lighter and more comfortable than most neckband-style headphones; in-ear design blocks exterior sound exceptionally well, pairs seamlessly with Apple devices; good battery life; microphone for calls; good sound; strong Bluetooth connection; great price with current Apple discount.
Cons: Uses Lightning cable to charge, which is fine for iPhone users but you shouldn't buy these if you don't already have a Lightning cable
Price: $100 from Apple
Ready the BeatsX review here >>
Audio Technica ATH-M50x
Pros: Superb rich sound for the price that appeals to a wide variety of listeners; supremely comfortable; collapsible; removable cable so you can switch to a Lightning cable and/or cable with a microphone.
Cons: Ear pads can get warm; doesn't isolate noise as much as others; design is a little dated; need to buy cable with microphone separately
Powerbeats3 (wireless)
Pros: Excellent for working out, as they stay firmly in your ears; in-ear design blocks exterior sound exceptionally well; good sound; W1 chips lets you pair seamlessly with Apple devices; excellent battery life; microphone for calls; volume controls; great price with current Apple discount
Cons: Music controls don't include next or previous track
Price: $150 from Apple
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